Ramsey man charged with fleeing, violating restraining order

A 25-year-old man is facing a felony fleeing a police officer charge in Anoka County District Court.

Travis Robert Taylor, Ramsey, was arraigned in court April 13 on the felony count as well as a misdemeanor charge of harassment/violating a March 29 retraining order.

According the criminal complaint, the woman Taylor was not to have contact with called the police around 10 a.m. April 12 to report that Taylor was at her residence and was armed with a gun.

Taylor had left the scene before police arrived.

According to witnesses, someone gave Taylor a ride to the Sunfish Express strip mall on Highway 10.

Taylor was reported to have been in several businesses in the strip mall and when officers attempted to enter Forever Floral, they found it locked.

The woman in the back of the store did not come to the door when motioned to by the officer.

But she did come to the door a short time later and said “he just ran out the back.”

According to the complaint, officers saw Taylor in the passenger seat of a tan minivan, which had a elderly male driver.

When officers approached the van, Taylor allegedly looked at them and then turned toward the driver’s midsection and then the floor area of the vehicle.

Fearing Taylor was going for a gun, officers drew their weapons and ordered Taylor get out of the van and show his hands.

Taylor did not comply and the van quickly accelerated out of the parking spot behind the florist shop, but was blocked by Anoka County Sheriff’s deputy squad car. The van stopped before hitting the squad.

Officers approached the van and ordered Taylor from the van and arrested him.

According to the van’s driver, Taylor had got into his van and asked for a ride.

The driver had agreed to give him a ride and was starting to leave the parking spot when he saw the officers.

According to the man, Taylor allegedly pushed down on his leg and foot to depress the gas pedal, forcing the van to move.

In a post-Miranda statement, Taylor alleged the woman had invited him over to her residence to pick up some of his belongings.

He alleged he got angry and yelled at her when he saw the condition of his property, then left.

Taylor denied intentionally pushing the van driver’s leg, rather “he accidently bumped his leg,” according to his statement.